New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-26
INTERNATIONAL ARBI1RATION.

international arbitration fell into disiayOr
in England after the Alabama award. The
heavy costs assessed for the damages caused by
the escape Of the plivatecrs naturally excited
Strong prejudice against this method of setting
disputes between nations. For many Yeas
Tory critics cited the Treaty of Washington
as one OF the chief failures of Liberal dlpio-
macy When the Fisheries award was entered
Oh the credit side Of the British account, the
first bill of costs was considerably reduced.
Englishmen began to look with more favor
upon arbitration, especially as the Treaty oil
Washington vas uniformly Interpreted by then
most trustworthy writers on international law
rs a material triumph for Great Britain no less
than moral victory for the United States.
When war with Russia seemed imminent in
1878. the advantage derived from that treaty
became apparent TO the dulcst mind i'll ing
land. since public attention in America was at
once directed TO the obligations Of the Govern.
ment in the exe.c else Of due dill scncc under the
rules adopted at Geneva Russian agents
purchased vessels at various shipyards in the
United States and if war had been declared
at London and ST. Petersburg, most rigid
measures would have been takCn IN American
ports to prevent the Cars agents from equip
ping, arming and manning fleet In these
waters. That treaty is now generally regarded
by English statesmen as stronger safeguard
for their commerce in the event Of war than
the privatcering clause of the Treaty Of Paris,
since it commits the United States Govern
ment TO a most rigorous policy under the Cen
eva rules. II is not remarkable, therefore,
- hon, IF .iia,, Al Ia va
.nitcd in memorial to the President and
Congress in favor of the establishment OF
permanent system of arbitration in disputes
between the two countries.
This memorial which is TO be presented to
the President in October by dozen prominent
members of Parliament will reopen in an
authoritative way the subject of international
arbitration. Bearing the signatures Of nearly
one third Of Her Majesty's COmmoners. ii will
have tremendous weight as deliberate eX-
preston of opinion on the part Of many OF
the best known men in England. Ostcnsibly
the memOrialists do not advocate arbitration
as a substitute for diplomacy, but only as an
alternative when ordinary methods of procedure
shall have failed. The contemplated treaty is
10 stipulate that all questions which cannot be
settled by diplomatic negotiations shall be
submitted to arbitrators for final decision.
Practically this scheme would take all i'm
I,ortant controversies in which there is
radical divergence of view between the two
countries out of the range of diplomacy.
Historic questions like the Monroe Doctrine
and the North Atlantic Fisheries would be
adapted to the sliding scale of arbitration
compromise. The memorial will be certain
TO receive the serious attention Of Congress and
the American people but it is not one to be
favorably acted upon piematufely or without
deliberate Judgment
1t is obvious almost at first glance that there
is class of questions relating to international
law which could advantageously be referred
to an arbitration tribunal. Extradition is a
good example. The two great branches Of the
English-speaking race ought to have had long
ago the most complete extradition code known
among nations. The treaty between Great
Britain and the United States is an antiquated
one. it is the weakest of all our extaditlon
codes instead of being the strongest; ami
prolonged negotiations nave not yet resulted
in the conclusion OF an adequate convention
An arbitration court would make short work
of such a question as this. Indeed, In all
controversies involving recognized principles
Of international law, like the case OF the seiz-
IRE of Mason and Slidell on British mail
packet arbitration would be an unmiXed gain
TO both countries. There is, however, another
class of questions in which American rather
than international law Is concerned; and the
reference of such disputes to an arbitration
court would be most unfortunate for the inter-
ests Of this country. As an illustration, the
Monroe Doctrine Is an orthodox canon df
American diplOmaeYi but it il not a question